Expression of connexin43 and its correlation with the expression of bcl-2 and bax protein in transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder / 肿瘤

ABSTRACT

Objective: To study the expression of connexin43 (Cx43) gene and its correlation with the expression of apoptosis related genes bcl-2 and bax in transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder (BTCC), and to investigate the role of Cx43 in the BTCC. Methods: Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction was used to detect the expression of Cx43 mRNA and immunocytochemistry technique was used to detect the expression of bcl-2 and bax proteins in 60 cases of BTCC tissue, and compared with that of 15 cases of pericancerous tissue and 15 cases of normal bladder tissue. Results: The positive rate of Cx43 mRNA expression in 60 cases of BTCC tissues was 43.33% which was significantly lower than that in pericancerous tissues (73.33% ) and normal tissues (100%) (x2 = 17.58, P 0.05). Expression of Cx43 negatively correlated with bcl-2 protein (r = 0.63, P < 0.01) and positively correlated with bax protein (r = 0.52, P < 0.01). Conclusion: The down-regulated expression of Cx43 gene was closely associated with the development, invasion and metastasis of BTCC. It could be used a prognostic indicator for BTCC. Cx43 gene may have antagonistic effects with bcl-2 gene and synergistic effects with bax gene in the initiation and progression of BTCC.